Barbecued Chicken and Chickpea Quesadillas

The barbecued chicken pizza Wolfgang Puck first served at Spago in Hollywood inspired this quesadilla, which we serve as a special at the Market. The combination seems kind of strange to people at first, but once they try it, they love it.

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 200°F.

Combine the chicken and barbecue sauce in a medium bowl, season to taste with salt and pepper, and toss gently to coat.

In a separate medium bowl, combine the chickpeas and the reserved liquid, garlic, and scallions and mash the ingredients together with a potato masher, leaving the mixture slightly chunky. Season to taste with salt and pepper and stir to combine.

To assemble the quesadillas, lay the tortillas on a flat work surface and spread the chickpea mixture over half of each tortilla, dividing it evenly. Top with the chicken and sprinkle each with a few cilantro leaves and the cheeses. Fold the tortillas in half to form half-moons.

Lightly grease a grill pan or cast-iron skillet with olive oil and heat it over medium-high heat until it's hot. Place two of the quesadillas in the skillet to grill for about 2 minutes per side, turning once, until the cheese is melted and the tortillas are golden brown. Transfer the quesadillas to a baking sheet and place them in the oven to keep them warm. Repeat the process with the remaining quesadillas, adding more oil to the pan if it's dry. Cut the quesadillas into wedges and serve warm.

Sara Foster is the founder and owner of Foster's Markets, two café takeout shops in Durham and Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She has worked as a chef for Martha Stewart's catering company, as well as for several well-known New York chefs and caterers. Sara has been featured in Martha Stewart Living, House Beautiful, Country Home, and Southern Living and appears regularly on Martha Stewart Living Television. She lives on a farm outside of Durham with her husband, Peter Sellers.

Sarah Belk King is a contributing editor for Bon Appétit magazine and a freelance writer. Her articles have appeared in Wine Spectator, Country Home, House Beautiful, Diversions, The New York Times Magazine, and other national publications. She is the author of Around the Southern Table and The Hungry Traveler: France.

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